Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests / Redeemable Partnership Units (Activity of Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests Rollforward
Balance as of December 31	$ 984,937	$ 1,278,446
Net income	(1,124)	3,229
Other comprehensive income	654	3
Distributions	(7,906)	(9,163)
Other, net	3,713	14,495
Balance as of March 31	857,026	1,266,074
Class A Unit
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests Rollforward
Redemption of Class A units for Vornado common shares, at redemption value	(8,392)	(14,739)
Adjustments to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value	$ (114,856)	$ (6,197)

Decrease in noncontrolling interest balance from payment of dividends or other distributions by the non-wholly owned subsidiary or partially owned entity, included in the consolidation of the parent entity, to the noncontrolling interest holders.

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- Definition

Decrease in noncontrolling interest (for example, but not limited to, redeeming or purchasing the interests of noncontrolling shareholders, issuance of shares (interests) by the non-wholly owned subsidiary to the parent entity for other than cash, and a buyback of shares (interest) by the non-wholly owned subsidiary from the noncontrolling interests).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)
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- Definition

Amount of Net Income (Loss) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.19)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

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- Definition

Amount after tax of other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
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- Definition

As of the reporting date, the aggregate carrying amount of all noncontrolling interests which are redeemable by the (parent) entity (1) at a fixed or determinable price on a fixed or determinable date, (2) at the option of the holder of the noncontrolling interest, or (3) upon occurrence of an event that is not solely within the control of the (parent) entity. This item includes noncontrolling interest holder's ownership (or holders' ownership) regardless of the type of equity interest (common, preferred, other) including all potential organizational (legal) forms of the investee entity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
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- Definition

Adjustments to reflect redeemable Class A Operating Partnership units

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Other Net Attributable To Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest

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